This is a list of well-known Canadians.

Contents

1 Architects 2 Artists 3 Astronauts 4 Authors 5 Business personalities 6 Cartoonists 7 Criminals 7.1 Alleged criminals 7.2 Wrongfully convicted 8 Educators 9 Explorers 10 Humanitarians 11 Inventors 12 Military figures 13 Stage, Motion pictures, radio and television 14 Musicians 15 Political leaders 16 Religious personalities 17 Scholars 18 Scientists 19 Sports personalities 20 Other personalities

Architects

• Douglas Cardinal
• Ernest Cormier, architect and engineer
• Arthur Erickson
• Frank Gehry
• E.J. Lennox
• John Ostell
• Francis Rattenbury
• Moshe Safdie

Artists

• The Group of Seven - painters
• The Beaver Hall Group - painters
• Robert Bateman (1930-), painter
• Paul-Émile Borduas, abstract painter
• Emily Carr (1871-1945), painter
• Raffi Cavoukian - children's entertainer
• Jack Chambers
• Susan M. Cohen Watercolour artist, Thornhill, Ontario
• Greg Curnoe (1936-1992)
• Charles Daudelin (1920-2001), sculptor
• Marcelle Ferron (1924-2001), glazier
• J.W.L. Forster 1850-1938, portraitist
• Pierre Granche (1948-1997), sculptor
• Jack Harman , (1927-2001), sculptor
• Lawren Harris - group of seven, early Canadian abstraction
• Prudence Heward (1896-1947), painter
• A.Y. Jackson - last member of Group of Seven (artists)
• Karen Kain - ballerina
• Yousuf Karsh (1908-2002), photographer
• Cornelius Krieghoff (1815-1872), painter
• Laura Muntz Lyall (1860-1930), Impressionist painter
• Robert Markle (1936-1990, painter
• Guido Molinari (1933-2004)
• Jean-Paul Mousseau, (1927-1991), muralist
• Miyuki Tanobe (1937-), painter
• Norval Morrisseau (1931-), founded 'Woodland' school of art
• Toni Onley (-2004), painter
• Bill Reid (1920-1998), sculptor
• Jack Reid
• Jean-Paul Riopelle, (1923-2002), painter
• Anne Savage (1896-1971), painter
• Tom Thomson - ill fated wilderness painter
• Jeff Wall - photographer

See also List of Canadian painters

Astronauts

• Roberta Bondar - first Canadian woman in space
• Marc Garneau, (born 1949), first Canadian in space
• Chris Hadfield, (born 1959), first Canadian to walk in space
• Steven MacLean, astronaut
• Julie Payette, (born 1963), astronaut
• Robert Thirsk, astronaut
• Bjarni Tryggvason, astronaut

Authors

• Milton Acorn, (1923-1986), poet, has published 18 volumes of poetry
• Gilles Archambault - novelist, essayist, critic
• Margaret Atwood, (born 1939), poet, novelist, essayist
• Margaret Avison, (born 1918), poet, has published 8 volumes of poetry
• Pierre Berton, (1920-2004), popularizer of Canadian history, TV personality, columnist
• Earle Birney, (1904-1995), anti-conventional poet, also wrote novels, short stories, drama
• Bill Bissett, (born 1939), poet, famous for incorporating sound and the visual into poetry
• Di Brandt, (born 1952), Manitoba poet and literary critic
• Morley Callaghan, (1903-1990), novelist, short story writer
• Barry Callaghan, (born 1937), author/poet
• Bliss Carman, (1861-1929), poet, wrote Low Tide on Grand Pre
• Roch Carrier, (born 1937), author
• Anne Carson, (born 1950), writer
• Wayson Choy, (born 1939), writer, novelist
• Leonard Cohen, (born 1934), poet/singer
• Douglas Coupland, (born 1961), author
• Robertson Davies, (1913-1995), author
• Timothy Findley, (1930-2002), author
• Diane Francis, (born 1946), author, journalist
• Louis Fréchette, (1839-1908), poet, essayist, journalist, dramatist
• Mavis Gallant, (born 1922), author
• William Gibson, (born 1948), author, Neuromancer
• Barbara Gowdy, The Romantic; The White Bone and short stories
• Gwethalyn Graham, (1913-1965), wrote first Canadian novel to top the United States bestseller list
• Arthur Hailey, (born 1920), author of 4 New York Times #1 bestsellers
• G.R. Hambley , (born 1958), poet renowned for "The Passing"
• Louis Hémon , (1880-1913), novelist and journalist, Maria Chapdelaine
• Jack Hodgins, writer, novelist
• Thomas Homer-Dixon, writer
• Nancy Huston, (born 1953), author
• Donald Jack, novelist, playwright
• J. Robert Janes, (born 1932), writer
• Guy Gavriel Kay, fantasy genre fiction
• Naomi Klein, anti-globalization activist
• Gordon Korman, children's author
• Margaret Laurence, (1926-1987), author
• Stephen Leacock, (1869-1944), author/humorist
• Dennis Lee, writer of children's poetry
• A. J. Levin, writer
• Hugh MacLennan, (1907-1990), novelist and essayist, wrote Two Solitudes and Barometer Rising
• Alistair MacLeod, (born 1936), writer, novelist
• Yann Martel, (born 1963), 2002 Booker Prize Winner
• Leslie McFarlane (1902-1977), wrote Hardy Boys books
• John Metcalf, writer
• Rohinton Mistry, (born 1952), author
• W.O. Mitchell, author, Who has Seen the Wind
• Lucy Maude Montgomery, (1874-1942), Anne of Green Gables
• Susanna Moodie, (1803-1885), Roughing it in the Bush
• Farley Mowat, (born 1921), Never Cry Wolf, My Discovery of America
• Alice Munro, (born 1931), short story writer
• Robert Munsch - American-born writer of children's books
• Michael Ondaatje, (born 1943), author
• Jean Baptiste Proulx , (1846-1904), dramatist and essayist
• Nino Ricci, (born 1959), novelist; winner of the 1990 Governor General's Award for Fiction
• David Adams Richards, (born 1950), writer, novelist
• Mordecai Richler, (1931-2001), author
• Sinclair Ross, author, As for Me and My House
• Gabrielle Roy, (1909-1983), author
• Robert W. Service, "The Shooting of Dan McGrew", "The Cremation of Sam McGee","Songs of a Sourdough"
• Carol Shields, (1935-2003), author
• Elizabeth Smart, Author, "By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept"
• Samuel Strickland , (1804-1867), Twenty-seven Years in Canada West
• Catharine Parr Traill, (1802-1899), Life in the Backwoods of Canada
• Michel Tremblay, (born 1942), author, playwright, poet
• Jane Urquhart, (born 1949), novelist
• George Woodcock, (1912-1995), poet, critic and anarchist author of Anarchism

See also List of Canadian writers for a much more extensive list

Business personalities

• Max Aitken, (1879-1964), "Lord Beaverbrook" - publishing baron, entrepreneur
• Izzy Asper, (1932-2003)
• Conrad Black, (born 1944), "Lord Black of Crossharbour", entrepreneur, publisher (born Canadian but gave up his citizenship)
• Roy Thomson, (1894-1976), "Lord Thomson of Fleet", entrepreneur, publisher
• Samuel Bronfman - founded the distillery empire that later took the name of Seagram
• Robert Campeau - bankrupted Bloomingdale's Department Store, NYC
• Jack Kent Cooke - owner of the Washington Redskins
• Samuel Cunard, (1787-1865), Cunard Steamship Lines
• Paul Desmarais - Chairman: Power Corporation of Canada
• Sir James Dunn, financier, steel magnate
• Timothy Eaton, (1834-1907), founder of Eaton's (T. Eaton Company of Canada) department stores
• Bernie Ebbers - CEO (former) of WorldCom - largest bankruptcy in world history
• Alfred Fuller, (1885-1973), Fuller Brush Company
• Milton and Nelson Good - first Canadian Automobile
• K.C. Irving - Industrialist
• F. Ross Johnson (b. 1931), former CEO of RJR Nabisco
• Ron Joyce, original partner with Horton in Tim Hortons, and primary builder of the chain
• Izaak Walton Killam, (1885-1955), major financier
• Victor Li, Deputy chairman of Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited, son of Li Ka Shing
• Pete Luckett - owner of Pete's Frootique and host of The Food Hunter
• William C. Macdonald (1831-1917), tobacco manufacturer, education philanthropist
• Louis B. Mayer, (1885-1957), co-founder: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios
• Harrison McCain - New Brunswick potato magnate
• Sam McLaughlin - Buick Automobile Manufacturer
• Simon McTavish (1750-1804), fur trader
• John Molson, (1763-1836), founder of Molson Breweries
• Peter Munk, (1927-), founder of Barrick Gold
• Jimmy Pattison -West Coast billionaire
• John Redpath, canal builder, sugar refinery founder
• Paul Reichmann - sunk by Canary Wharf
• John Roth - CEO (former) Nortel Networks - "the most successful businessman in modern Canadian history"....Time Europe 12/25/00
• Lino Saputo , (1937-), founder of Saputo
• Isadore Sharp, founder of the Four Seasons Hotel chain.
• John F. Stairs, (1848-1904), entrepreneur, statesman
• Frank Stronach - entrepreneur, founder of Magna.
• E. P. Taylor - entrepreneur, thoroughbred horse breeder
• Nat Taylor - movie theatre mogul, originator of the multi auditorium movie theatre or cineplex
• Greg & Mac Voisin , founders and co-owners of M&M Meat Shops Ltd.
• Sir William Cornelius Van Horne - Railway executive who directly oversaw construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway
• Jack Warner, (1892-1978), founder of Warner Bros. Studios
• Greg & Mac Voisin , founders and co-owners of M&M Meat Shops

Cartoonists

• Aislin, cartoonist with the Montreal Gazette newspaper
• Chester Brown - comic book creator, Yummy Fur, Underwater and Louis Riel
• John Byrne - cartoonist/writer best known for his work on superhero characters like The Fantastic Four and Superman.
• Jennifer Cuthbert - The Adventures of Lollipop
• Lynn Johnston - writer/cartoonist, For Better or For Worse
• Joe Matt - comic book creator, Peep Show
• Todd McFarlane, (born 1961), cartoonist/writer, Spawn, Spider-Man
• Seth - comic book creator, Palookaville
• Dave Sim - comic book creator, Cerebus the Aardvark
• Joe Shuster, (1914-1992), creator of Superman
• Ben Wicks, illustrator and comic strip cartoonist, as well as humanitarian

Criminals

• Paul Bernardo (born 1964), murderer
• Edwin Alonzo Boyd , bank robber
• Marc Carbonneau, terrorist
• Jacques Cossette-Trudel , terrorist
• Louise Cossette-Trudel, terrorist
• Larry Fisher, murderer
• Karla Homolka, murderer (Mrs. Paul Bernardo)
• Jacques Lanctôt, FLQ Terrorist
• Yves Langlois, FLQ Terrorist
• Robert Latimer, murdered his 12-year-old disabled daughter
• Marc Lépine, killed 14 women at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique in 1989
• Bernard Lortie, FLQ Terrorist
• Denis Lortie, killed three people at the Quebec National Assembly in 1984
• Clifford Olson , serial child killer
• Paul Rose, terrorist
• Jacques Rose, terrorist
• Francis Simard, terrorist
• Colin Thatcher, murderer
• Inderjit Singh Reyat -- the alleged bomb-maker of the device that blew up Air India Flight 182, pleaded guilty to the murder of the 329 passengers in 2003

Alleged criminals

• Grace Marks -- convicted of murder in 1843, her role in the murder has never been clear, became the subject of Margaret Atwood's 1996 novel Alias Grace.
• Robert Pickton -- charged with largest number of serial killings in Canadian history, and still counting
• Nicholas Ribic -- charged with having taken UN hostages during the war in the Balkans
• Steven Truscott -- convicted of murder in 1959; as of 2004, his case is pending its third appeal on grounds of wrongful conviction
• Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri -- charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of 329 passengers and crew on Air India Flight 182 and attempted murder of passengers and crew of Air India Flight 301 and the murders of two baggage handlers at the airport in Narita, Japan.

Wrongfully convicted

• David Milgaard - served 23 years for a murder he did not commit
• Donald Marshall Jr. - wrongfully convicted of murder; subject of a Supreme Court of Canada case regarding First Nations rights to natural resources
• Guy Paul Morin - was not only tried twice for the same crime but spent 10 years in prison for a murder he did not commit.

Educators

• Sue Johanson, sex educator

Explorers

• George Mercer Dawson, (1849-1901), explored and surveyed Canadian Rockies, Canada/US boundary
• Simon Fraser, (1776-1862), established first trading posts west of the Rockies; explored the Fraser River.
• Louis Joliet, (1645-1700), explorer
• Alexander Mackenzie, first to reach the Pacific north of Mexico via an overland route
• John Rae, (1813-1893), travelled widely through the Canadian Arctic
• Charles de Salaberry, (1778-1829), soldier
• William Grant Stairs, (1863-1892), Victorian era explorer, discovered one source of the Nile River, first non-African to ever climb Mt.Ruwenzori
• David Thompson, (1770-1857), mapped the Columbia River from source to mouth.
• Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de la Vérendrye, (1685-1749), explored Lake Superior and Lake Winnipeg
• Jean Escueta , explored all the types of positions in bed

Humanitarians

• Grey Owl (Archibald Belaney) - Fur Trapper and Conservationist who posed as a Native American
• Norman Bethune, (1890-1939), surgeon,inventor, socialist, battlefield doctor in Spain and China
• Richard Bucke, 1837-1902, progressive psychiatrist, theorist, philosopher, early author on human development and human potentials
• Steve Fonyo, Retraced and completed Terry Fox's cross country cancer research fundraising marathon.
• Terry Fox, (1958-1981), attempted one-legged cross country run for cancer research, Canadian Hero
• Rick Hansen, Parapelegic athlete who completed an around the world marathon for spinal cord injury research.
• Jean Vanier Founder of L'arche .

Inventors

• Alexander Graham Bell, (1847-1922), Invented the telephone in Canada, developed it in US. (Canadian/American/Scot)
• Joseph-Armand Bombardier - invented the snowmobile
• J. Brown - invented the washing machine
• Thomas Carroll - first self-propelled combine harvester
• Mathew Evans - co-inventor of the first electric light bulb
• Reginald Fessenden, (1866-1932), inventor the Radiotelephone and sonar - produced 1st radio broadcast
• Sir Sandford Fleming, (1827-1915), inventor of the system of standard time zones in use today
• Wilbur R. Franks - invented the "anti-black-out-suit" (the G-suit)
• James Gosling, (born 1956), invented Java computer language
• Larry Hanson - co-inventor of green plastic garbage bag
• Sam Jacks - inventor of ringette
• Rasmus Lerdorf - invented PHP computer language used on Internet
• Elijah McCoy, (born 1844), Black inventor, automatic machinery lubricator, lawn sprinkler, the "real McCoy"
• Samuel McKeen - invented the Odometer
• P.L. Robertson invented the Robertson screw
• Gideon Sundback - invented the zipper
• Lewis Urry - invented the long-lasting alkaline battery
• Harry Wasyluk - co-inventor of green plastic garbage bag
• Henry Woodward - co-inventor of the first electric light bulb

Military figures

• Gustave Biéler (1904-1944), SOE agent, executed by the Nazis
• Billy Bishop WW1 and WW2 Flying Ace
• Sir Isaac Brock, (1769-1812) War of 1812 general who successfully defended Canada in the early phase of the war
• Roy Brown, (1893-1944) - WWI fighter pilot officially credited with shooting down the Red Baron
• Arthur Currie The nation's greatest general responsible for the WW1 victory at Vimy Ridge
• Roméo Dallaire - UN peacekeeping General who attempted to interfere with the Rwandan Genocide, with little support from his superiors.
• Peter Dmytruk (1920-1943), WW II Flight Sergeant and member of the French Resistance
• John Kenneth Macalister (1914-1944), SOE agent, executed by the Nazis
• John McCrae (1872-1918), soldier, poet, author of In Flanders' Fields
• Andrew McNaughton, Minister of Defense during World War II
• Henry Norwest (1884-1918), one of the most famous snipers of World War I
• Francis Pegahmagabow (1891-1952), the most highly decorated aboriginal Canadian soldier of World War I
• Frank Pickersgill (1915-1944), SOE agent, executed by the Nazis
• George Lawrence Price (1898-1918), last soldier killed in World War I.
• Tommy Prince (1915-1977), one of Canada's most decorated soldiers, a member of the joint US/Canada special commando unit known as the Devil's Brigade
• James Ralston, Minister of Defense during World War II
• Roméo Sabourin (1923-1944), SOE agent, executed by the Nazis
• Sam Steele (1851-1919), A member of the North West Mounted Police most famous for his command of a detachment in the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush
• William Stephenson (codename: Intrepid) (1896-1989), soldier, airman, spymaster, and the senior representative of British intelligence for the western hemisphere in World War II.

Stage, Motion pictures, radio and television

• See also: List of Canadian entertainers, Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood
• Pamela Anderson (born 1967), model, actress
• Dan Aykroyd (born 1952), actor/comedian
• Robert Beatty (1909 - 1992), actor
• Geneviève Bujold (born 1942), actress
• James Cameron (born 1954), director
• Neve Campbell (born 1973), actress (Scream series, Party of Five)
• John Candy (1950-1994), actor/comedian
• Jim Carrey (born 1962), actor/comedian
• Leslie Cheung (1956-2003), Hong Kong-based actor/singer
• Tommy Chong (born 1938), actor
• Sidney M. Cohen (born 1947), TV Director and program creator
• David Cronenberg (born 1943), director
• Elisha Cuthbert (born 1982), actress (Popular Mechanics for Kids , Old School)
• Richard Day , art director, winner of seven Academy Awards
• Nicole DeBoer (born 1970), actress (Cube)
• Yvonne De Carlo, (born 1922), actress
• James Doohan (born 1920), actor ("Scotty" on Star Trek)
• Marie Dressler, actress, Academy Award winner
• Douglass Dumbrille (1889-1974), prominent character actor
• Deanna Durbin (born 1921), singer and actress
• Atom Egoyan - director (The Sweet Hereafter)
• Joe Flaherty (born 1941), actor/comedian
• Michael J. Fox (born 1961), actor/comedian (Back to the Future trilogy, Spin City, Family Ties, Stuart Little (voice))
• Barbara Frum - radio and television journalist
• Tom Green (born 1971), actor/comedian
• Lorne Greene (1915-1987), actor ('Pa Cartwright on Bonanza), TV news anchor
• Peter Gzowski (1934-2002), radio personality
• Monty Hall (born 1921), host of Let's Make a Deal
• Tricia Helfer (born 1974), actress, model
• Natasha Henstridge (born 1974), actress, model
• Foster Hewitt (1902-1985), broadcaster
• May Irwin (1862-1938), vaudeville singer, actress
• Peter Jennings (born 1938), News anchor
• Norman Jewison (born 1926), director, received The Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award
• Margot Kidder, Lois Lane in Superman
• Eugene Levy, actor/comedian
• Beatrice Lillie (1894-1989), comedic actress
• Evangeline Lilly (born 1979), actress (Lost)
• Art Linkletter (born 1912), variety show host
• Norm MacDonald - actor/comedian
• Peter Mansbridge (born 1948), News anchor
• Louis B. Mayer, co-founder MGM
• Eric McCormack - actor Will & Grace
• Rick Mercer - actor/comedian, This Hour Has 22 Minutes
• Wendy Mesley, television journalist
• Lorne Michaels (born 1944), originator of Saturday Night Live
• Rick Moranis, actor (Honey, I Shrunk the Kids)
• Colin Mochrie (born 1957), comedian
• Mike Myers (born 1963), actor (Austin Powers series, Saturday Night Live)
• Leslie Nielsen (born 1926), actor
• Anna Paquin (born 1982), actress (raised in New Zealand)
• Mary Pickford (1892-1979), actress and producer, cofounder of United Artists
• Christopher Plummer (born 1927), actor
• Keanu Reeves (born 1964), actor
• Caroline Rhea (born 1964), actress, talk show host
• Lloyd Robertson (born 1934), News anchor
• Kelly Rowan (born 1967), actress
• Mack Sennett (1880-1960) film producer
• William Shatner (born 1931), actor (Captain Kirk on Star Trek)
• Norma Shearer actress, Academy Award winner
• Martin Short - actor/comedian, Saturday Night Live
• Dorothy Stratten (1960-1980), actress, Playboy model
• Donald Sutherland (born 1934), actor
• Kiefer Sutherland (born 1966), actor (24), son of Donald, grandson of Tommy Douglas
• Meg Tilly (born 1960), actress, sister of Jennifer Tilly
• Cali Timmins (born 1963), actress (Maggie Shelby on Ryan's Hope)
• Alex Trebek (born 1940), game show host (Jeopardy!)
• Nia Vardalos (born 1962), actress, producer, screenwriter (My Big Fat Greek Wedding)
• Pamela Wallin, television journalist
• Jack Warner, cofounder of Warner Brothers
• Estella Warren, supermodel, actress
• Austin Willis, (1914-2004), actor
• Moses Znaimer (born 1942), television mogul Citytv, Bravo, MuchMusic

Musicians

• Bryan Adams, (born 1959), singer
• Paul Anka, (born 1941), singer
• Talena Atfield, bassist and vocalist of Kittie
• Randy Bachman, (born 1943), singer
• Tal Bachman , singer and the son of the above
• The Band (excepting Levon Helm)
• Lenny Breau, (1941-1984), guitarist
• Len Cariou, (born 1939), actor/singer
• Wilf Carter, (1904-1996), singer
• Leslie Cheung, (1946-2003), Hong Kong-based actor/singer
• Bruce Cockburn, (born 1945), singer
• Leonard Cohen, (born 1934), singer, songwriter
• Stomping Tom Connors , Canadian country/folk singer/songwriter
• Andy Creeggan , the Barenaked Ladies
• Céline Dion, (born 1968), singer
• Fefe Dobson, (born 1987), singer/songwriter
• Georges Dor, chansonnier, composer and singer of "La Manic", novelist, playwright
• Percy Faith, (1908-1976), band leader
• Maynard Ferguson, (born 1928), band leader, trumpet
• Nelly Furtado, pop singer
• Glenn Gould, (1932-1982), pianist, composer
• Paul Horn, flute player
• Tommy Hunter (born 1937), country singer
• Colin James,(b. 1964), singer/songwriter
• Pauline Julien (1928-1998), singer/songwriter
• Andy Kim (born 1952), singer/songwriter
• Chantal Kreviazuk, singer
• k.d. lang, (born 1961), singer
• La Bolduc, (born 1897-1941), singer
• Avril Lavigne, (born 1984), singer/songwriter
• Geddy Lee, (born 1953), singer, bassist, keyboardist Rush
• Gordon Lightfoot, (born 1938), singer/songwriter
• Guy Lombardo, (1902-1977), his band's instrumental version of Auld Lang Syne brought in the new year across North America for more than a generation.
• Loreena McKennitt (born 1957), singer
• Sarah McLachlan, (born 1968), singer/songwriter
• Joni Mitchell, (born 1943), singer/songwriter
• Alanis Morissette, (born 1974), singer/songwriter
• Anne Murray, (born 1945), singer/songwriter
• Geoffrey O'Hara, (1882-1967), songwriter
• Walter Ostanek - Polka, three-time Grammy Award winner
• Oscar Peterson - (1925- ) jazz pianist
• Stan Rogers, (1949-1983), folk musician
• Paul Shaffer, (born 1949), Musical director "Letterman" show
• Jane Siberry, (born 1955), singer entrepreneur
• Sarah Slean, singer, songwriter, pianist
• Hank Snow, (1914-1999), country & western singer
• Harry Somers (1925-1999), composer
• Lara St. John (born 1971), violinist
• Lucille Starr (born 1938), singer
• Skye Sweetnam (born 1989), singer
• Salli Terri, (1922-1996), mezzo soprano
• Devin Townsend, (born 1972), singer/songwriter/producer
• Shania Twain, (born 1965), singer/songwriter
• Gilles Vigneault - his song Mon pays has been a significant rallying song among the Québécois.
• Hawksley Workman, singer/songwriter/producer/performer
• Neil Young, (born1945), singer/songwriter

• See also: List of Canadian musicians

Political leaders

• Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott, (1821-1893) 3rd Prime Minister of Canada
• William Aberhart, (1878-1943), premier of Alberta 1935-09-03 to 1943-05-23
• John Aird, (1923-1995), Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
• Lincoln Alexander, (1922- ), Lieutennant Governor of Ontario
• Lloyd Axworthy, (1939- ), Former Cabinet Minister
• Reuben Baetz , (1923-1996), Executive Director of Canadian Council on Social Development
• Robert Baldwin, (1804-1858), Co-premier of Upper Canada
• Maude Barlow, activist, Chairperson of the Council of Canadians
• James Bartleman, (1939- ), Lieutennat Governor of Ontario
• Perrin Beatty, (1950- ), former cabinet minister, president of CBC
• Monique Begin, (1936- ), former cabinet minister
• Richard Bedford Bennett, (1870-1947), former Prime Minister
• W.A.C. Bennett, (1900-1979), former Premier of British Columbia
• William Richards Bennett,(1932- ), former Premier of British Columbia
• Thomas Berger, (1933- ), Jurist
• Big Bear, (1825-1888) Cree leader
• Patrick Binns, (1948- ), premier of Prince Edward Island
• Allan Blakeney, (1925- ), former Premier of Saskatchewan
• Ethel Blondin-Andrew (1951- ), Cabinet minister
• Sir Robert Borden, (1854-1937), former Prime Minister of Canada
• Lucien Bouchard, (1938- ), former Premier of Quebec
• Henri Bourassa, (1868-1952), Quebec politician
• Robert Bourassa, (1933-1996), former Premier of Quebec
• Pierre Bourgault, (1934-2003), President of Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale
• James Bourque, (1935-1996), former member of the Privy Council
• Sir Mackenzie Bowell, (1823-1917), former Prime Minister of Canada
• John Bracken, (1883-1969), former Premier of Manitoba
• Joseph Brant, (1742-1807), Mohawk leader
• Molly Brant, (1736-1796), leader of Six Nations women's federation
• Ed Broadbent, (1936- ), former NDP leader
• George Brown, (1818-1880), played major role in confederation
• Rosemary Brown, (1930-2003), Canadian politician
• John E. Brownlee, (1884-1961), premier of Alberta 1925-11-23 to 1934-07-10
• John Buchanan, (1931- ), former premier of Nova Scotia
• Tim Buck, (1891-1973), former leader of the Canadian Communist Party
• Gordon Campbell, premier of British Columbia 2001-06-05 to ...
• Kim Campbell, The first female prime minister of Canada in 1993
• Sir George-Étienne Cartier, (1814-1873), French-Canadian statesman
• Jean Charest, (born 1958) elected premier of Quebec in 2003.
• Brock Chisholm, (1896 - 1971), first Director-General of the WHO
• Jean Chrétien (born 1934), prime minister of Canada 1993-2003
• Glen Clark, (born 1957), premier of British Columbia 1996-02-22 to 1999-08-25
• David Collenette, Canadian politician
• Amor De Cosmos, (1825-1897), premier of British Columbia 1872-12-23 to 1874-02-11
• Ujjal Dosanjh, (2000-2001), premier of British Columbia 2000-02-24 to 2001-06-05
• Tommy Douglas (1904-1986) premier of Saskatchewan from 1944 to 1961.
• Maurice Duplessis, (1890-1959), premier of Quebec
• Lord Durham, (1792-1840), (John George Lambton)
• Andrew Charles Elliott, premier of British Columbia 1876-02-01 to 1878-06-25
• Donald Getty, premier of Alberta 1985-11-01 to 1992-12-13
• Herbert Greenfield, (1869-1949), premier of Alberta 1921-08-13 to 1925-11-23
• Michael Harcourt, (born 1943), premier of British Columbia 1991-11-05 to 1996-02-22
• C. D. Howe, senior Cabinet minister in the governments of Mackenzie King and St. Laurent
• Joseph Howe, 19th century Nova Scotia politician and Father of Confederation
• Rita Johnston, (born 1935), premier of British Columbia 1991-04-02 to 1991-11-05
• William Lyon Mackenzie King, (1874-1950), Canadian prime minister
• Ralph Klein, (born 1942), premier of Alberta 1992-12-14 to ...
• Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine, (1807-1864) co-premier of the United Province of Canada
• Wilfrid Laurier, (1896-1911), Canadian prime minister
• René Lévesque, (1922-1987), premier of Quebec
• Peter Lougheed, (born 1928), premier of Alberta 1971-09-10 to 1985-11-01
• William Lyon Mackenzie, first mayor of Toronto and 1837 rebellion leader
• Ernest Manning, (1908-1996), premier of Alberta 1943-05-31 to 1968-12-12
• Thomas D'Arcy McGee, (1825-1868), promoter of a federal union for the Canadian provinces
• Agnes Macphail - Canada's first female Member of Parliament and subsequently a leader in penal reform for Canada
• Beverley McLachlin - Current Chief Justice of Canada
• Brian Mulroney (born 1939), prime minister 1984-1993
• Piapot, (c.1816 – 1908) Cree Chief
• Louis-Joseph Papineau, (1786-1871) Quebec politician, reformer and 1837 rebellion leader
• Richard G. Reid, (1879-1980), premier of Alberta 1934-07-10 to 1935-09-03
• Louis Riel, (1844-1885), leader of two Métis uprisings (hanged for treason)
• Alexander C. Rutherford, (1857-1941), premier of Alberta 1905-09-02 to 1910-05-26
• Louis Stephen St. Laurent, (1882-1973), prime minister
• Jeanne Sauvé, (1922-1993), first female governor general
• Arthur L. Sifton, (1858-1921), premier of Alberta 1910-05-26 to 1917-10-30
• Charles Stewart (1868-1946), premier of Alberta (1868-1946), 1917-10-30 to 1921-08-13
• Harry E. Strom, (1914-1984), premier of Alberta 1968-12-12 to 1971-09-10
• Tecumseh (1768-1813) Shawnee leader who played a key role in the defence of Canada in the War of 1812
• W. Ross Thatcher, (1917–1971), premier of Saskatchewan 1964-May 2 to 1971-June 30
• John Sparrow David Thompson, (1845-1894), prime minister
• Pierre Elliott Trudeau, (1919-2000), prime minister of Canada 1968-1979; 1980-1984.
• John Napier Turner (born 1929), prime minister of Canada in 1984
• William N. Vander Zalm, (born 1934), premier of British Columbia 1986-08-06 to 1991-04-02
• The Valiant Five, 1920s women's rights activists

(See also lists: Prime Minister of Canada, Canadian Confederation, Members of the Canadian House of Commons)

Religious personalities

• St. Marguerite Bourgeoys - first Canadian saint
• St. Marie-Marguerite d'Youville - founder of the Grey Nuns
• St. Jean de Brébeuf - martyr
• St. Isaacs Jogues - martyr
• St. Charles Garnier - martyr
• St. Anthony Danile - martyr
• St. Gabriel Lallemant - martyr
• St. Noel Chabanel - martyr
• St. John de Lalande - martyr
• St. Rene Goupil - martyr
• Albert Lacombe
• Alexis André
• Alexandre Taché
• Kateri Tekakwitha
• Frère André
• Paul-Émile Cardinal Léger
• Lionel Groulx

Scholars

• Louise Arbour, (born 1947), jurist
• Jack Chambers, linguist
• Northrop Frye, (1912-1991), influential critic, Shakespeare and Blake scholar
• John Kenneth Galbraith, (born 1908), economist
• Marshall McLuhan, (1911-1980), communications theorist, "The medium is the message"
• John Peters Humphrey, (1905-1995), legal scholar, principal drafter of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• John Ralston Saul, businessman, essayist, diplomat
• F. R. Scott, (1899-1985), law professor, philosopher, poet
• Charles Taylor, philosopher

Scientists

• Sid Altman - Molecular Biology
• Frederick Banting, (1891-1941), medical scientist, co-discovered insulin
• Charles Best, (1899-1978), medical scientist, co-discovered insulin
• Wilfred Bigelow - first artificial pacemaker
• Bertram Brockhouse - designed the Triple-Axis Neutron Spectroscope
• Sir William Dawson, (1820 – 1899), first Canadian-born scientist of worldwide reputation
• William Francis Giauque - 1949 Nobel Prize Winner in Chemistry
• James Gosling - Programmer, inventor of Java
• Gerhard Herzberg - 1971 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry for Molecular Spectroscopy
• David Hubel - 1981 Nobel Prize winner in Medicine for mapping the visual cortex
• Doreen Kimura - Behavioural Psychologist: World expert on sex differences in the brain
• Julia Levy - Microbiologist: co-discovered photodynamic anti-cancer drugs
• William Logan, (1798-1875), founded the Geological Survey of Canada, knighted by Queen Victoria, awarded the French Legion of Honor.
• John Macoun, (1831 – 1920) - Noted botanist.
• Rudolph Marcus - 1992 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for electron transfer reactions (e.g. rust)
• Maud Menten - (1879-1960), medical scientist, made groundbreaking work in enzyme kinetics
• Henry Morgentaler - abortionist who helped strike all abortions in Canada and strenghten the power of jury nullification in Canada
• Sir William Osler - Physician, "most influential physician in history"
• Wilder Penfield - Neurosurgeon, discovered electrical stimulation of the brain
• John Polanyi - 1986 winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for infrared chemiluminescence
• Hubert Reeves - Astrophysicist and science popularizer
• Charles Edward Saunders - Marquis Wheat
• Arthur Schawlow - 1981 Nobel Prize winner in Physics (for lasers)
• Myron Scholes - 1997 Nobel Prize winner in Economics
• Hans Selye - (1907-1982) - pioneering stress researcher
• Michael Smith (1932-2000), 1993 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry for site-based mutagenesis
• David Suzuki, (born 1936), geneticist and science popularizer
• Henry Taube - 1983 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for electron transfer reactions
• Richard Taylor - 1990 Nobel Prize in Physics for verifying the Quark Theory
• Irene Ayako Uchida - Cytogenticist: World-famous Down syndrome researcher
• William Vickrey - 1996 Nobel Prize winner in economics
• Tuzo Wilson - Geophysicist. plate tectonics

For a more detailed list of renowned Canadian scientists, including Nobel Prize winners, see the outside link:

• http://www.science.ca/scientists/scientists.php

Sports personalities

• Donovan Bailey, (born 1967), sprinter
• Jason Bay, (born 1978), baseball player
• Chris Benoit, (born 1967, WWE wrestler
• Jean Béliveau, (born 1931), ice hockey player
• Marilyn Bell, first person to swim Lake Ontario
• Big Ben, (1976-1999), world champion show-jumping horse
• Tommy Burns, (1881-1955), World Heavyweight boxing Champion
• Myriam Bédard, (born 1969), Olympic Gold Medal
• Don Cherry, ice hockey coach and commentator
• Adam Copeland, a.k.a. "Edge" WWE wrestler
• Victor Davis (1964-1989), Olympic swimming champion
• George Dixon (1870-1909), first black World boxing champion; first Canadian-born World boxing champion
• Catriona LeMay Doan, (born 1970), two-time Olympic gold medalist in speed skating
• Yvon Durelle, (born 1929), boxing champion
• Stewart Elliott, (born 1965), jockey
• Randy Ferbey (born 1959), curling
• Eric Gagne, (born 1976), baseball player, Los Angeles Dodgers closer, 2003 National League Cy Young Award
• Marc Gagnon, (born 1975), Olympic Gold medalist
• Nancy Greene, (born 1943), Olympic Gold Medal in Downhill Skiing
• Wayne Gretzky, (born 1961), ice hockey legend
• Ned Hanlan, world champion sculler
• Mike Harris , (born 1967), curler
• Sandy Hawley, (born 1949), Hall of Fame jockey
• John Hayes, (1917-1998), harness racing driver
• Ann Heggtveit, (born 1939), world and 1960 Winter Olympics ski champion
• Paul Henderson, ice hockey player, scored winning goal in 1972 Summit Series
• Matthew Hilton, world champion boxer
• Clara Hughes, (born 1972), speed skating and cycling medalist in both summer and winter Olympics
• Bobby Hull, (born 1939), The "Golden Jet" first player in the NHL to score more than 50 goals in a season.
• Chris Irvine , a.k.a. "Chris Jericho" WWE wrestler
• Russ Jackson, Canadian footballer
• Ferguson Jenkins, (born 1943), baseball pitcher, MLB Hall of Fame member
• Jennifer Jones
• Gordie Howe, (born 1928), ice hockey legend
• Ben Johnson, (born 1961), sprinter, disqualified from Olympic gold medal for doping
• Colleen Jones, (born 1959) Curler
• Gail Kim, WWE wrestler
• Joe Krol, Canadian footballer
• Joseph Lannin, owner of the Boston Red Sox who signed Babe Ruth
• Lucien Laurin, (1912-2000), Hall of Fame trainer of Secretariat
• Kelley Law, (born 1966), curler
• Mario Lemieux, (born 1965), ice hockey player
• Kevin Martin (curling), (born 1966), curler
• Ian Millar, World Champion equestrian rider
• Howie Meeker, (1924-) Hockey player, commentator, coach
• Greg Moore, (1975-1999)
• Bronko Nagurski, (1908-1990), player with Chicago Bears, member of U.S. Pro Football Hall of Fame
• James Naismith, (1861-1939), YMCA instructor who invented the game of Basketball
• Steve Nash, (born 1974), NBA star with Dallas Mavericks
• Northern Dancer, thoroughbred racing champion
• Willie O'Ree, (born 1935), first black ice hockey player in the NHL
• Bobby Orr, (born 1948), ice hockey player, considered by many to be the best ever, revolutionized the role of a defenceman
• Guy Owen, (1911-1952), ice skating champion
• Paris Crew , world rowing champions in 1867
• Scott Patterson, (born ~1970), curler, killed in a vehicle accident at age 34
• Jacques Plante, (1929-1986), pioneer ice hockey goaltender
• Sandra Post, (born 1948), golfer
• Terry Puhl, baseball player
• Jason Reso, a.k.a. "Christian" WWE wrestler
• Maurice Richard, (1921-2000), ice hockey player, "The Rocket," first to score 50 goals in a season
• Patrick Roy, (born 1965), legendary ice hockey goalie
• Sandra Schmirler, (1963-2000), curler
• Barbara Ann Scott, figure skater, Olympic Gold Medal
• Matt Stairs, (born 1968), professional baseball player
• Patricia Stratigias, a.k.a. "Trish Stratus" WWE wrestler
• Paul Tracy, (born 1968), CART racing Champion
• Ron Turcotte, (born 1941), jockey of Secretariat
• Mike Vanderjagt, (born 1970), placekicker for Indianapolis Colts
• Gilles Villeneuve, (1950-1982), race car driver
• Jacques Villeneuve, (born 1971), race car driver, son of Gilles
• Larry Walker, (born 1966), baseball star for the St. Louis Cardinals
• Mike Weir, (born 1970), golfer, Masters tournament winner
• Lucille Wheeler, (born 1935), alpine ski champion
• Percy Williams, (1908-1982), sprinter
• Steve Yzerman, (born 1965), ice hockey player

See also:

• List of famous Canadian sports personalities
• Canada's Athletes of the 20th Century

Other personalities

• Frédéric Jeanbart , one of the main promoters and thinkers of the IT/Web expansion in Quebec
• Scott Abbott - co-inventor of Trivial Pursuit
• Marie-Joseph Angélique, executed for setting the city of Montreal on fire
• The Great Antonio - strongman, showman, and eccentric
• The Black Donnellys - the common nickname for the notorious Donnelly family who were the participants and/or victims of a vicious community feud in Lucan, Ontario that ended with a home invasion and massacre of the family by the residents of the community.
• Linda Evangelista, (born 1965), supermodel
• Bret Hart, (born 1957), professional wrestler
• Owen Hart, (1965-1999), professional wrestler, brother of Bret
• Chris Haney - co-inventor of Trivial Pursuit
• Josiah Henson - former slave, believed to be the inspiration for "Uncle Tom's Cabin".
• Bat Masterson - (1853-1921) gunfighter, fight promoter, sports journalist
• Charles Vance Millar - (1853-1926) Lawyer and financier and posthumous practical joker and birth control activist with his will.
• Henry Morgentaler - Doctor, who caused Canada's abortion statute to be struck down as unconstitutional.
• Daniel Negreanu - Professional poker player
• Edgar Randolph Parker - better known as "Painless" Parker - flamboyant dentist
• Winnie the Pooh - aka Winnipeg the Bear who inspired Milne
• Alexander Ross -aka The Birdman, pre-American Civil War abolitionist and participant in the Underground Railroad
• Sue Rodriguez, (1950-1994), ALS sufferer and right to die advocate
• Joshua Slocum, (1844-1909?) - First man who sail around the world solo.
• Margaret Trudeau (born 1948), former wife of Pierre Elliott Trudeau

See also: Asian-Canadian, List of Canadian Heroes and Heroines, List of wealthy Canadians, The Greatest Canadian, Black Canadian, List of Quebecois, List of Canadian Jews